Shortwood 0 Clanfield 2 – Unisport Hellenic League Division 1
Clanfield’s injury time goal put the game out of reach for Marcus Foxwell’s plucky Shortwood United against the league leaders, writes Jim Cunneen.
Both sides had early chances with Gaul firing straight at Thomas and Dan Gayner firing over for the Wood.
Marcus Foxwell’s side had a really good chance after 9 minutes when a poor goal kick went straight to Smith and he laid the ball off to Martin, but he scuffed his shot narrowly wide of the post.
With half-an-hour gone, Haley pulled off a fine double save to deny Gayner and Kent before the ball pinballed about in the area and Wood could not force the ball home. Kimber’s strong run was ended by a fine challenge from Tryner and Thomas tipped over a free kick from Ellis before the break.
Smith had an effort deflected inches wide and Harry missed a good chance for Clanfield shooting wide of the far post when through.
Clanfield brought on Nat Robinson and he immediately looked a threat forcing Thomas into a good save. Thomas bettered that save tipping a Robinson shot onto his bar and away before Clanfield took the lead after 69 minutes. A Robinson cross was cleared, but only to King who shot into the bottom corner.
Wood pushed forward and thought they had levelled. A ball through caught Wood offside but with the ball in the keeper’s hands the referee shouted play on. Haley threw the ball out of his area but straight to Gayner who stroked the ball into the net. The ref then went back and awarded the original free-kick for the offside. With 5 minutes to go, Bowes escaped and shot with Haley parrying and a defender did brilliantly to clear the ball of the line.
With Wood pushing forward, it was left to Robinson in added time to take advantage of a fast break and race through and fire across Thomas into the far corner and settle the game and give Clanfield the points they deserved on the balance of play.
Shortwood: Thomas, Loveridge, Sabally (Mace R 84), Byrnes (Gayner A 84), Tryner, Whelan, Molyneux, Kent (Bowes 72), Martin, Smith, Gayner D
